Planning for a sustainable prison system

Transparency

In Half One in all his report, Mr Gauke explicitly laid accountability for our jail overcrowding drawback on the need of politicians (of all events) to be seen to be “powerful on crime”. He makes the purpose (repeatedly) that punishment is necessary however not efficient in decreasing reoffending:

“The piecemeal and unstrategic method through which sentence lengths have elevated in latest many years has meant that there was inadequate consideration of the entire statutory goals of sentencing: punishment, crime discount, reform and rehabilitation, public safety and reparation. Punishment is a crucial goal for the prison justice system and jail performs a significant function in delivering punishment. However too usually decision-making has been based mostly on an method that punishment is all that issues, and that the one type of punishment that counts is imprisonment.”

To place an finish to this development (which in my reckoning goes again 28 years to Tony Blair’s “Powerful on Crime, Powerful on the Reason behind Crime” pledge), Mr Gauke argues that the Authorities and, certainly, the general public will need to have entry to unbiased recommendation and evaluation of the influence of coverage choices and proof on what works to scale back crime. His first advice is the creation of an unbiased physique (exterior to Authorities) to advise on the impacts of present and future coverage choices regarding jail and probation assets. He recommends that this physique consists of unbiased consultants and act as a public voice on what works to scale back crime with the goal of supporting decision-making grounded in sturdy proof, selling transparency in policymaking and inspiring consciousness of the systemwide influence of coverage choices.

He proposes three predominant capabilities for this unbiased physique:

An authority on what works to scale back crime. The physique ought to champion and promote essentially the most authoritative proof on what works to scale back crime and stop reoffending, drawing on nationwide information, worldwide contexts and experience throughout the sector.Analyse proposed coverage modifications. The physique ought to advise authorities on the potential influence of coverage and legislative modifications together with particularly on: worth for cash, doubtless crime discount influence and impact on courts, jail and probation assets.Annual reporting. Mr Gauke additionally proposes that the physique ought to make a long run evaluation of the cumulative influence of presidency coverage by publishing an annual report, which would offer a broader view on how insurance policies work together and the present standing of jail and probation demand versus capability.

His second advice is alongside related traces: introducing a “requirement for Ministers to make a press release to Parliament through the introduction of a brand new Invoice on its influence on jail demand.”

Though the Sentencing Assessment lined lots of points throughout the prison justice system, Mr Gauke flags three extra areas for consideration by the Authorities together with:

Most and Minimal sentencesUnderstanding disproportionality within the justice systemYoung grownup offenders

Conclusion

Mr Gauke concludes his evaluation by re-stating his objectives for decreasing demand on prisons and growing the variety of group sentences. He additionally identifies two key dangers to his plan for a extra sustainable jail inhabitants.

The primary is that the Authorities implements the proposals for sentence reform, however the probation system is left unable to deal with the extra calls for.

The second is that politicians are unable to withstand the  temptation to imagine that the reply to each drawback within the prison justice system needs to be answered by legislating for longer sentences.

Solely time will inform.

Due to Andy Aitchison for form permission to make use of the header picture on this publish. You may see Andy’s work right here.